ChompTalk.com

Just four days after traveling home following a sweep to South Carolina, Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan decided to shake up his pitching staff.

Instead of rotation stalwarts, Tommy Mace and Jack Leftwich starting, Franco Aleman and Christian Scott were named the starters.

The strategy paid off in spades on Thursday as Florida defeated No. 3 Mississippi 4-1 at Florida Ballpark.

Aleman tossed four innings before giving way to Mace, who finished the game. Aleman allowed just three hits and an unearned run in making his first start. Mace struck out seven and allowed only one hit in his five innings of work.

The Gators got on the scoreboard early, plating a run in the first as Jacob Young scored on a double by Nathan Hickey. The Rebels evened the score with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, but a Colby Halter single in the fourth put the Gators back ahead.

Florida tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth as Young tripled to score Jordan Carrion and Nathan Hickey grounded out to score Young.

Mace threw a perfect ninth, striking out the side to close out the win.

Pitching Decision:

• W: Franco Aleman (1-1)
• L: Gunnar Hoglund (3-1)
• S: Tommy Mace (1)

Individual Stats:

• Young: 2-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 R
• Aleman: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 K, 0 BB
• Mace: 5 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
• Fabian: 0-4, 2 K,

On Deck:

Florida and Ole Miss will square off in game two of the series on Friday at 6:30 PM. Christian Scott is expected to get the start for the Gators.